Category Archives: Event

Monsanto Must Pay Damages To French Farmer for Pesticide Poisoning

Excerpted from From Le Figaro (English)

Monsanto must pay for French farmer’s pesticide injuries

A French tribunal found Monsanto, the leading producer of agro chemicals, responsible for serious neurological effects suffered by a French farmer after his exposure to poisonous pesticides. Monsanto must pay for all damages suffered by the farmer.

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Plaza Athénée’s Alpine Pop-Up Restaurant

From the 28th of February to 10th March, Paris’s Hotel Plaza Athénée invites you to experience their Alpine-inspired Pop-Up restaurant.

Cuisine is inspired by the Rhone-Alpe region of France known as the Haut-Savoie with its Savoyarde regional cuisine. Think hearty, mountain cooking for cold nights and white winters!

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Cognac For ♥ Valentine’s Day

by Paige Donner

Cognac for the most important ♥ holiday of the year!? Yes! And not just for your fella, but for your Lady (love) as well. 

Scenes from Cognac

 all photos by and c. Paige Donner 2012 

Click Here for Slideshow Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remy Martin and Paul Giraud (in that order)

Women love things that are smooth, warm, that glide just the right way and yet still have that appropriate touch of femininity. You might think that I’m describing lovely lingerie. But, No! I’m talking about cognac. That’s right!  Cognac can be YOUR dreamy passport to love and pleasure this Valentine’s Day!

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Wine And Climate Change In The International Herald Tribune

Dear Readers and Wine Lovers: Please have a look at my recent article which originally appeared in the International Herald Tribune. It is also online at NYTimes.com with full LINK HERE.

by Paige Donner

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The Wine Yacht

“We wanted to put our own unique spin on traditional food and wine pairing concepts” says Chef Natasha Harris.“Clients who book the yacht will be able to show their guests Vancouver from a new perspective, while learning about interesting wine and food combinations using local ingredients. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our city and what we are privileged to have here.” 

Created by Sunset Bay’s ISG accredited Executive Chef Natasha Harris, The Wine Yacht’s interactive group tasting sessions are designed to provide clients with an informative and unique custom tasting event while on board the “Sunset Bay II” private yacht. Each tasting station features premium wine varietals from BC and around the world, paired with small plates inspired by the corresponding wine’s region. Continue reading

Insider Guide to the 8th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

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SAM THE COOKING GUY WANTS YOU TO CHECK OUT HIS INSIDER GUIDE TO THE FESTIVAL!

Sam the cooking guySan Diego’s beloved Sam the Cooking Guy has created a list of tips to help you master the 8th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival! As a seasoned Festival veteran for the last 7 years, Sam knows a thing or two about the event and wants to give you a sneak peak into the action-packed culinary week that only a foodie could appreciate. 

Discover insider tips, top picks and must-sees at this year’s Grand Tasting.  CLICK HERE to view Sam’s full Insider Guide to the Festival.   

 

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Click PLAY to watch Sam the Cooking Guy mention

the 2011 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

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St. Emilion Jurade Inductee Henri Leconte Interview by Paige Donner Local Food And Wine TV

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A Parisian Night of Cheese

By Paige Donner

[All photos by Paige Donner c. 2011]

Parisians are known to do things their own particular way. And when it comes to presenting their cheeses, they make no exception.

An art exhibit that opened on October 6th at LaMilkFactory in Paris’s boho chic 11th arrondissement is none other than a full art exhibit presenting imaginative ways to serve cheeses.

A staple of any French meal, cheese, does, of course, enjoy full status as a “course” all to itself in the lineup of a meal. At Design Sur Un Plateau, Curator Cecile Cau, originator of the blog So Food So Good, and her co-hort, food design book author Stephane Bureaux, teamed up to imagine, envision and then carry out a food art design exhibit of “cheese platters” amongst a collaboration of 6 separate designers, all well-known in the field of gastronomy and/or design.

Design_sur_un_plateau_stephane_bureaux_photo_by_paige_donner

Stephane Bureaux, Food Art Design Author And Cheese Platter Designer Continue reading

Fête de la Gastronomie

Fête de la Gastronomie - Local Food And WineForeword FROM THE MINISTER

The Fête de la Gastronomie is a festival that is not to be missed, and it will be taking place on the first day of autumn [Sept 23rd]. It will also have its own theme, uniting all the different events and initiatives taking place throughout the country. This year we have chosen Our Earth, because it generously allows us to work it, harvest its fruits, and use them for our food. Because man and earth are inseparable. More INFO

Foreword from the MinisterEverywhere you look there is something to do with gastronomy: in the media, in the increasingly imaginative dishes available in our restaurants…as though the whole idea were something new, whereas in fact it is no more than a tradition in a constant state of renewal, very much alive, and one that makes the most of our country’s dynamism, the foods we produce, and what we do with them.  Continue reading

Gérard Bertrand Annual Jazz Fest Weekend, Sud de France

All photos by Paige Donner c. 2011.

The Gérard Bertrand annual Jazz Fest took place August 4th – 8th this summer at Château l’Hospitalet in Narbonne.  These photos are taken at Château l’Hospitalet just outside Narbonne.

To read more about Gérard Bertrand wines, his annual summer Jazz Fest and hisL’Art de Vivre Les Vins Du Sud, click on Gerard-Bertrand.com.

Watch the Local Food And Wine TV interview of Gérard Bertrand at his Cigalus Estate HERE.

Full Slideshow on Local Food And Wine.

Château l’Hospitalet. Festival de Jazz. Photos by Paige Donner c. Local Food And Wine.

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Monaco Royal Wedding Chooses Local Cuisine

2010-11-19-14-19-47-2-prince-albert-ii-of-monaco-and-lady-charlene-witts

It was in the kitchens of the Louis XV in the Hôtel de Paris, along with the executive chef of the kitchens of the hotel, Franck Cerutti, that Alain Ducasse received the confirmation from the Palace.

«H.S.H Prince Albert IIand Miss Wittstock’s decision honours me. It honours also Mediterranean cuisine,a sincere and fair cuisine that pays tribute to a rich and generous land. A cuisine that is respectful of its environment. Prince Albert and his future wife have thus expressed their attachment to nature and to the attentive work of the men and women who wisely nurture it. On this very special day, I cannot help myself remembering with emotion the tasty moments the Prince spent with his family at our table.

Monegasque since 2008, it was in 1987 that Alain Ducasse discovered Monaco,when Prince Rainier III called upon him to take over the direction of the kitchens of the Hôtel de Paris, Monte-Carlo SBM’s prestigious establishment, with the mission to make the Louis XV the first hotel restaurant awarded three Michelin stars, a distinction that was granted in 1990. Located between Nice and Liguria, it is at the Louis XV that Alain Ducasse brings cachet to Mediterranean cuisine. A cuisine of freedom, of emotions and of passion but also of rigor, sobriety and method; it gives the best role to each ingredient -from the modest vegetable garden plant to the most sumptuous crustacean- for the greater pleasure of the senses. At the very heart of this Mediterranean soil that so inspires him, he has found, in twenty-five years of professional partnership and personal implication, a staunch support. Today, Monaco is the essential anchor point in his profession as chef-creator. From the Louis XV, he trains most of his chefs, the very same ones who then carry his work across the globe.

The Princely wedding dinner, held on the terraces of the Salle Garnier, will be executed from the kitchens of the Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris, with the

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Château HAUT-BRION Hosts Dinner, Conseil des Grand Crus Classés of 1855

Château HAUT-BRION, Bordeaux (Sunday, June 19, 2011)  Since 1983 the Conseil des Grand Crus Classés of 1855 (Médoc & Sauternes) have hosted a dinner honoring the International Press to open the world’s premier wine and spirits exhibition, VINEXPO Bordeaux. The event, always held at a first-growth château, continued this tradition when 350 people gathered at Château HAUT-BRION on Sunday, June 19, 2011.

Dinner Hosted by Château HAUT-BRION for Vinexpo 2011 Kickoff
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Château Haut-Brion’s Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux and Philippe Castéja, President of the Conseil des Grand Crus Classés of 1855 (Médoc & Sauternes), Alain PASSARD (L’Arpège, Paris),Anne-Sophie PIC (Maison Pic, Valence), and Yannick ALLENO (Le Meurice, Paris)

Some 220 journalists from 33 countries were welcomed by Château Haut-Brion’s Prince Robert of Luxembourg, and Philippe Castéja, President of the Conseil des Grand Crus Classés of 1855 (Médoc & Sauternes). Following a tasting of Médoc and Sauternes Grand Cru Classé wines from the 2005 and 2008 vintages there was a “9-star” dinner created by a trio of three-star chefs:Alain PASSARD (L’Arpège, Paris), Anne-Sophie PIC (Maison Pic, Valence), and Yannick ALLENO (Le Meurice, Paris). The food was accompanied by a selection of Grand Crus Classés with commentary on each vintage offered by the Best Sommeliers of the World.

Philippe_casteja
Gcc_1855Médoc Grands Crus Classés from the 2003 vintage accompanied an entrée of Field-dressed purple beets with semi-sweet vinaigrette, cocoa and acacia honey by Alain Passard. Next, vintages 1996 to 1985 were tasted with the main dish, Gently roasted blue lobster in shellfish butter, with a lobster and red fruit consommé lightly flavored with green pepper by Anne-Sophie Pic. Then Haut-Brion 1975 in double magnum was presented with a Hearth-roasted rack of lamb, golden risotto-style spelt, and fricassee of chanterelles prepared by Yannick Alléno. To finish on a sweet note the guests enjoyed a “nine-star” dessert course, with each chef matching their creation to the 1990 Château d’Yquem: a contemporary vacherin of raspberries and Blue Mountain coffee from Pic; a soft, lemon sponge cake soufflé by Alleno; and strawberries with olive oil and lime by Passard).The evening was also the occasion to offer each guest the latest book from ABRAMS, “Grands Crus Classés—The Greatest Wines of Bordeaux—with recipes from TOP CHEFS of the WORLD”. Published in October 2010, this unique work brings together for the first time the world’s greatest chefs such as Ferran Adrian-El Bulli, Jean Georges, Noma, Joël Robuchon, Paul Bocuse, Eric Ripert, Nobu Matsushisa, Marc Haeberlin, Thomas Keller, André Chiang, Alex Atala, Hiroyuki Hiramatsu, Pierre Gagnaire, Chan Yan-Tak, and many others, as well as the three chefs who prepared the evening’s menu. 87 chefs representing 27 countries around the world have each created a recipe for the Grand Crus Classés of 1855, with commentary by seven of the Best Sommeliers of the World (Oliver Poussier, Markus del Monego, Andréas Larsson, Serge Dubs, Franck Thomas, Youichi Sato, Virginia Philip, and Eric Beaumard).The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés of 1855 (Médoc & Sauternes) is the official organization dedicated to the advancement and presentation of wines listed in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. It manages all aspects of promotional, technical, economic, and legal questions relating to the 1855 Grands Crus Classés (Médoc & Sauternes), the administration of their affairs and the enhancement of their prestige. The 1855 Classification was established at the request of the French Emperor, Napoléon III, who wished for the finest products of the Empire to be presented at the Universal Exposition at Paris in 1855 (the first universal exposition organized in France).

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Beka’s 100% Chef Eco Logic

Local Food And Wine 100% Eco-Logic Chef

by: Paige Donner

 After taking a series of cooking classes in Paris last Winter, I realized that it was time to have some dinner parties chez moi to show off my new masterful (!) cooking skills. So when I realized that my one pan large enough to fry one egg in wouldn’t suffice for my dinner guests, I went shopping for new pots and pans.

The first thing I noticed was that since I’d last scoured the market, a whole new line of cookware had made its presence known on the store shelves. The most intriguing of these are the ceramic-lined cookware. I first did some window shopping in various department and specialty cooking stores and then placed my order with Beka whose Eco Beka line of 100% “Chef Eco-logic” line of ceramic-lined pots and pans had merited the 2009 prestigious Design Plus Award.

Local Food And Wine Eco Beka Crepe Pan

To really test the efficacy of the both products, I ordered one pan the identical size of the one pan I already had. My old pan was teflon-lined steel – not a cheap version but just last generation pan. The new shiny white pan from Eco Beka came lined with a beautiful slate gray ceramic.

It heats super fast, the hollow handle, metal, stays cool when cooking, I use a tiny drop of oil for non-stick and to steam vegetables I only use a 1/3 of the water.

What makes Eco Beka so efficient not to mention aesthetic?

  • 100% environmentally friendly and worldwide exclusive treatment of eco hardened aluminum surfaces.
  • PTFE and PFOA-free thanks to the water-based ceramic coating.
  • No release of toxic substances – neither in production, nor when overheating.
  • Natural color of the pan is preserved: no chemical dyes used
  • Hollow, thermal handle: Fewer materials used which benefits the environment (this keeps the handle cool, unless used in the oven).
  • Beka makes a whole range of Eco Beka. Take a look at the line of pots, pans and casseroles online.  

And two more things:  Super easy cleanup of the nonstick surface. Also, I swear that the fact that they sponsor the Top Chef  TV show had no bearing on my decision to purchase Chef Eco-logic 100%. After all, I’m not a Top Chef, I just pretend to be one when I’m cooking at home.

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Ultimate July 1 Barbecue with a New Wine Mobile App

Game-changing technology allows you to instantly scan 150,000 wines in the liquor store

Toronto, May 12, 2011 – A new free mobile application will change the way Canadian wine lovers find, buy and enjoy wine this summer. The Natalie MacLean Wine Picks & Pairings app lets you use your smartphone camera to snap a picture of any bottle label bar code in the  liquor store. With one click, you get tasting notes, scores, and food pairings.

Mobileapp-iphone-lo

“You’re in the liquor store wondering if you should buy the bottle with the castle on its label or the one with the fluffy squirrel,” says Natalie MacLean, the editor of Canada’s largest wine web site at www.nataliemaclean.com. She created the tool to make buying wine easier for consumers.

“Now you just point and click to find out if that shiraz actually is a good wine to go with your pepper steak, or if the sauvignon blanc would work with your grilled veggies. No more guesswork based on castles and critters.”

No more shopping lists either since you can scan the wines right in front of you in the store. The app’s key features allow you to:

- Instantly access tasting notes, scores, prices, recipes and food pairings

- Search 150,000 wines at the LCBO, SAQ, BC Liquor Stores and other liquor retailers across the country

- Get real-time stock for every wine at the store in which you’re shopping

- Check the number of bottles in stock at nearby stores via GPS real-time inventory search

- Track your purchases in your virtual cellar with just a few clicks

- Create a wine journal with your own wine notes and pictures in the app

- Share your favourite wines and pairings on Twitter and Facebook

The new Wine Picks & Pairings app is the next generation of Natalie’s mobile app, which was selected among the top five food-and-wine apps by both Computerworld Magazine and the New York Times. It’s the only one featured on Apple’s iTunes store under App Essentials for both “Food & Wine” and “Date Night.”

Fans use Canada’s most popular wine and food app to get more than 700,000 wine picks and food pairing suggestions a month—the number of users has grown 230% over the past year. The app, designed by Fluid Trends, bundles a suite of 10 wine apps including reviews, cellar journals, recipes, food pairings, articles, blog posts, a wine glossary, a bi-weekly newsletter, a directory of wineries around the world and excerpts from Natalie’s bestselling book Red, White and Drunk All Over.

A certified sommelier and winner of the World’s Best Wine Writer award at the World Food Media Awards, Natalie wrote and vetted all the pairings and wine reviews in the app rather than relying on computer-generated algorithms and crowd-sourced material.

Natalie’s Top 10 Well-Done Wine and BBQ Pairings:

1. Juicy Steak and Shiraz

2. Grilled Salmon and Pinot Noir

3. Seared Tuna and Gamay

4. Flame-Broiled Hamburgers and Zinfandel

5. Grilled Portabello Mushroom and Rosé

6. Herbed Chicken and Syrah

7. Lobster in Butter and Sparkling Wine

8. Grilled Veggies and Sauvignon Blanc

9. BBQ Pork Chops and Chardonnay

10. Roasted Marshmallows and Tawny Port

About Natalie

Natalie MacLean is a Canadian wine journalist and author of Red, White and Drunk All Over.She connects with more than 123,000 wine and food lovers who get her free e-newsletter. Nat is the only person to have won both the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award from the James Beard Foundation and the M.F.K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing from Les Dames d’Escoffier International. More bio here: www.nataliemaclean.com/bio.


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Vegas Uncork’d ‘Toques Off to Paul Bocuse’ May 7

Vegas Uncork'd on Local Food And WineLAS VEGAS (April 2011) – Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit today released new details regarding “Toques Off to Paul Bocuse,” the lavish, multi-course dinner to be held Saturday, May 7, at MGM Grand. Joining previously announced chefs, Alain Ducasse, Hubert Keller, Joël Robuchon and Julian Serrano, will be Jean-Philippe Maury, Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, Roland Passot, André Renard, Jacques Torres and J. Joho, all of whom will prepare delectable courses for this unforgettable evening.

Collectively, this group represents the brightest constellation of award-winning chefs gathered to prepare a formal meal. In honor of Bocuse and his giving spirit, Southern Nevada charity partners have been named as beneficiaries of the evening: Keep Memory Alive (the non-profit organization that supports Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, founded by Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits) and the Wirtz Beverage Group’s culinary programs and scholarships at the College of Southern Nevada.

“This unprecedented event makes an important statement about Las Vegas as a culinary destination and Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit’s appeal not only to food lovers, but to the world’s greatest chefs themselves,” said Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief, Bon Appétit. Uniting this stellar group of chefs is a shared admiration and appreciation for legendary chef Paul Bocuse. Creator of the Bocuse d’Or—the world’s most prestigious international culinary competition held annually in Lyon, France—Chef Bocuse has influenced generations of chefs around the world and multitudes of gastronomes they serve.

Vegas Uncork'd on Local Food And Wine

The evening’s program promises “Toques Off” attendees a momentous culinary experience set amidst evocative surroundings reminiscent of Paul Bocuse’s landmark French restaurants. Upon arrival at 7 p.m., guests will be greeted by an exceptional cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception featuring stations helmed personally by chefs J. Joho, Hubert Keller, Shawn McClain, Bradley Ogden and Julian Serrano. At 8 p.m., the doors to an elegantly appointed ballroom will open, where a meticulously conceived and prepared, four-course dinner, prepared by an impressive array of superstar chef pairings, awaits.

Chef duos already announced include Alain Ducasse and Joël Robuchon, who will prepare a cold appetizer, and Michael Mina and Roland Passot, who will present the entrée. Created exclusively for the evening’s program, a retrospective of Paul Bocuse’s life and illustrious career will be complemented by in-person anecdotes shared by his colleagues and friends. Concluding the evening, an elaborate dessert reception by renowned pâtissiers Jean-Philippe Maury and André Renard, as well as chocolatier Jacques Torres, will delight guests, leaving them with sweet memories of an evening spent in the company of culinary royalty.

Rob O’Keefe, executive director, Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit, adds, “Only the most exciting culinary destination in the world would dream of pulling off a tribute of this scale. We’re honored to pay homage to this icon of international gastronomy and delighted to be able to do so here in Las Vegas.” ABOUT VEGAS UNCORK’D BY BON APPÉTIT: Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit is a unique, four-day culinary extravaganza featuring 25 intimate luncheons, dinners, tastings and other immersive and entertaining culinary experiences.

Year after year, Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit draws gourmands, luxury travelers and extraordinary chefs from around the globe to Las Vegas, all lured by the prospect of partaking in this epic foodie extravaganza. Its five partner resorts include Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Wynn | Encore; the event is made possible by its title sponsor, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, major sponsors Travelocity, Infiniti and other national brands. Among the famous names joining Bon Appétit magazine Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport at this year’s events are chefs Paul Bartolotta, Tom Colicchio, Alain Ducasse, Hubert Keller, Michael Mina, Rick Moonen, Bradley Ogden, Francois Payard, Joël Robuchon, Guy Savoy, Julian Serrano, Alex Stratta and many more. To purchase tickets, visitwww.VegasUncorked.com.

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